Inaugurated in 2012, Nature Connect Outdoors is a team of passionate, committed, professionals & educationist who truly believe that outdoors in all its manifestation is an effective tool for self discovery, holistic learning and fostering the “Nature Connect”

We understand the dynamic nature of our enterprise and thus invest heavily in the research, training and constant upgradation of skills at all levels.

Being an outdoor activity provider -The foremost strength of our organization is the professional skills, knowledge, passion and commitment that we bring with our experienced facilitators and instructors. “SAFETY FIRST “

Universities, schools and corporate from India and around the world can visit our Himalayan Centers for Outdoor education & skill development programs.

We have an in-house capability to conduct Outbound training workshops as per the requirement of the client, ranging from standard programs to bespoke solutions. Our team of experienced corporate trainers, industry experts and outdoor experts, carefully design these programs, so as to address specific needs of the organization. Our Outbound Training workshops are conducted in lap of nature, at our Himalayan Camps, with mighty Himalayas overlooking the site or else in other outdoor locations.
We look forward to long and fruitful relationship with your good organisation .

WHY US

Given a clean slate to write the best possible thoughts and implement them, we are obligated to establish the 'green connect' between the nature and the mankind. It is our endeavor to establish a bridge between the urban and the rural by leveraging on our individual strengths to develop an understanding and empathy in the two lifestyles and imbibe a sense of mutual admiration. Needless to mention, that our focus and ability to draw on the positivity of each lifestyle is our biggest asset.

'The last bus to home from wilderness; that is how we chase our passion every day.'

Our outdoor trips and experiential based learning programs have been set in a wilderness location across the Himalayas and beyond. The objective of our programs is to provide all our participants, an opportunity to experience a journey into the beyond....... a journey to discover the “new” in them while we play the role of the facilitators. Trust us, that after travelling with us, not only will you experience a complete transformation but will also learn to respect, appreciate and love your own inner self and that of others.

OUR TEAM

Anuradha Sangal:
Teacher, Educational Consultant, Teacher Trainer, NABET Quality School Examiner, Co-Founder of LEAP Quality Education Practices, formerly of Faculty of English, Hindi and Social Studies for Class V to VIII; Section Co-coordinator of Junior School; Co-coordinator of CIRS Community Service and the Creativity-Action-Service (CAS) under the IB Diploma Program at CIRS. As First Lady of the School - inculcated the CIRS family spirit in every employee, and their families, where each one felt that it is `my school’ and contributed to the school without the barriers of hierarchy in an atmosphere of love, care and faith; deeply involved in the cultural activities in training the children as well as in performing on the stage for various school functions.

Shailesh Bhatt:
An Engineer in Electronics and Telecommunication with over 21 years of Telecommunication industry experience, Shailesh brings with him the much needed corporate experience, required for sanity check on the entrepreneurial energy of the team. His incisive knowledge of business and vast array of corporate contacts acquired over 21 years helps in corporate side of business

Alok Bhatt:
Popularly known as “bhai” is the ‘Idea factory’ of this team, a free spirited soul with a child like inquisitiveness, for everything, which is unknown. His boundless energy, in depth knowledge of varied subjects and infectious smile, makes him connect with people from all walks of life, at will. Trained as s a Chartered Accountant and having worked with companies like Macmillan, Hines, Linmark and NIIT in various senior level roles; this avid white water enthusiast and a keen trekker, shunned his corporate career to follow his heart and passion of “journeying into beyond”. Schooled in Dehradun, Alok can draw on his vast corporate experience and extensive knowledge of mountains, its villages and their culture, to seamlessly connect the two worlds to justify his vision of 'Nature Connect' to all the stakeholders.

Capt. Siddharth Deoli:
Siddharth-popularly known as Sid- is a hardcore outdoor enthusiast, trained mountaineer, skier, river rafter, scuba diver, photographer and an avid trekker. Having born a highlander and never ever seen the sea, he grabbed the first opportunity to sail 'outward bound'. After 17 years out at sea and having sailed as Captain of a ship, braving hurricane force winds in the Pacific or fending pirates in Gulf of Aden or just watching beautiful Caribbean sun setting in the horizon, his true calling surfaced and here he is, in the mountains doing what he loves doing, climbing, trekking, skiing and living a life in the outdoors. His years on the high seas along with vast travel and outdoor experience, had made his system hard wired to a process driven organisation with a genuine concern for the safety. He brings best of both the world blending sea and the mountains in an interesting potpourri, best shared during a bonfire under the starry night.

Suniti Bhushan:
Datta is a consultant wildlife biologist, outdoor educator and avid long-distance cyclist. He has varied interests and passions that include trekking, mountaineering, astronomy, natural history, wilderness survival and navigation, military history, aviation and photography. He is a qualified life-guard and first-aider, certified by the Royal Life-Saving Society, UK. Prior to graduating from the prestigious Masters Course at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, he worked as a guide and researcher at Ranthambhore, Pench and Bandipur-Nagarahole Tiger Reserves. Subsequently, he has conducted intensive field research on both tigers and elephants, in and around Rajaji National Park and Corbett Tiger Reserve, and regularly assists the Uttarakhand Forest Department in training nature guides and forest guards for anti-poaching operations. He is the acclaimed author of, 'Birding in the Doon Valley' and the upcoming, 'Rajaji National Park-The Comprehensive Guide'. Suniti has studied at The Doon School and the University of Mumbai.”

ADVISORY BOARD

Ellen Stein:
Ellen Stein’s quest for new and exciting travel experiences brought her in touch with Team Nature Connect. A San Francisco Firefighter/EMT, she enjoys the challenges of running into unique and unpredictable situations, but prefers leading groups into exotic locations for Sierra Club, USA. She finds travel similarly inspiring on the Darwinistic shores of the Galapagos, the tiger-laden hills of India, and the heights of the Nepal Himalaya. After her last trip to India, she has gained a new passion for birds. Ellen is our biggest support and is never found wanting, whenever we need her advice.

Sushil Ramola:
A Chemical Engineer & IIM, Ahmedabad graduate with more than 30 years of experience, Sushil Ramola is the CEO of B-ABLE, founded across India to serve youth who could not complete their school education. His child like curiosity, combined with the wisdom of a corporate veteran made him imagine the possibility of “DueNorth, an organisation that Team Nature-Connect is involved in. DueNorth” is a community based development, rejuvenation and creative reinvention of a village in the state of Uttarakhand, that Sushil is funding. Needless to mention, he is one of our guiding lights in our Nature-Connect journey.

Anurag Sangal:
Chartered Accountant, Teacher, Educational Consultant, NABET Quality School Examiner Founder-LEAP Quality Education Practices; Formerly – Principal of CIRS, Coimbatore & Chairman, South Asia International Baccalaureate Schools Association; Anurag Sangal is another professional, who we turn to in our times of help and assistance. He has been a pillar of support though our Nature-Connect journey.

Amitabh Kukreti:
A Meteorologist with Indian meteorological dept. presently posted at Global Atmospheric watch station, hill campus Ranichauri. He is a 'Journey man', with interests in theater, music, painting and philosophy. His love for performing arts are best witnessed during interactive sessions, when he enthralls you with his skills in tabla , flute and harmonium . He had also lent his voice to various documentaries on Discovery, Doordarshan etc.. At our outdoor centres, he conducts lectures on meteorology, global warming, environmental impact, ecological sensitivity & creativity.

COMMITMENT TO SAFETY

Safety is hardwired in our DNA and is woven into the fabric of the organization. Our ‘Safety Management System’, ensures that all our programs are designed, implemented and executed, after a thorough Risk assessment and using most stringent industry standards and more. In order to ensure the safety of our participants and our employees, we use following procedures and tools:

- Our team comprises of corporate trainers and outdoor experts, with years of international experience.
- We invest heavily in constant training and up gradation of all our employees.
- Use of Risk assessment tools prior to program implementation.
- System of audits and checks.
- System of experience transfer and experience feedback.
- All our adventure gear is UIAA approved and procured from reputed suppliers.
- Contingency planning and emergency preparedness.

COMMITMENT TO ECOLOGY

Nature Connect Outdoors’ (NCO) is committed to highest level of ecological awareness, sustainable practices and minimum impact tourism in all the areas where we operate. It is our constant endeavor to promote sustainable development and focus on importance of preserving our outdoors by means of promotional campaigns & training/ workshops in mountain regions.

Our Ecological code of conduct is to:

- Follow instructions given by your trip leader or trainer.
- Stick to trails and recognized camping areas. Avoid creating new tracks, or damaging the environment in any way . do not walk over ploughed fields , you might be destroying some ones hard labor or else trampling local flora.
- Do not feed birds and animals. Their system is only used to food they get in the wild.
- Do not give sweets and other forms of gifts to local kids. There expectations grow with each visiting guest and is detrimental to their all round development.
- Respect local customs and people.
- Seek permission before photographing locals or their houses.
- You are in the wilderness, do not make noise, instead enjoy the beauty of silence. Blaring music, shouting and screaming should be discouraged.
- Do not litter in the mountains. Segregate garbage at source.
- In the camp sites use designated garbage bins for bio degradable and non biodegradable garbage.
- All the toilets should be at least 20 m from stream or the river. No excreta or grey water should enter streams or river systems.
- Use best practices and common sense to minimize damage to local flora and fauna.
- In the end ‘ leave behind only your footprints, and bring back only memories, that you will cherish rest of your life’.